Who was the Beelzebub/Beelzebul that the Pharisees attributed Christ's work to?

TL;DR:

Beelzebub is a false god associated with Satan. The Pharisees attributed Christ’s work to Beelzebub, but the incident revealed Jesus’ divinity and their faulty logic.

Beelzebub, a Philistine god from Ekron, is mentioned in the Old Testament as "lord of flies" and associated with Satan in Hebrew tradition. In 2 Kings 1, King Ahaziah's decision to seek Baal-zebub's (or Beelzebub’s) help instead of God resulted in a prophecy from Elijah that he would die, which came true. In the New Testament, the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub's power, which He refuted by highlighting the illogical nature of Satan opposing himself and affirming His works were through the Spirit of God. Jesus warned His followers to expect similar slander and opposition, emphasizing the need for faithfulness despite misunderstandings. These accounts underscore the importance of seeking true divine guidance, recognizing genuine spiritual authority, and rejecting idolatry and false sources of power.

from the old testament

Beelzebub was a Philistine god worshiped in the city of Ekron in the accounts of the Old Testament. The word Beelzebub is the Greek spelling of Baal-zebub meaning "lord of flies" (2 Kings 1:2). Baal was the Canaanite fertility god. Zebub, Hebrew for flies, was often used as a name for Satan. The term referred to the sixth of the seven heavens of the Jewish mystical sect Kabbalah. It should also be noted that Beelzebul is an alternate spelling.
In 2 Kings 1, King Ahaziah of Samaria fell and was severely injured, prompting him to send messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, about his recovery. The prophet Elijah conveyed God's judgment that Ahaziah would die because he sought Beelzebub instead of the true God. Despite repeated confrontations and divine fire consuming his sent captains, Ahaziah's third captain's plea for mercy led Elijah to deliver God's final message to the king. This message confirmed his impending death, which occurred as prophesied, leading to Jehoram's succession.

from the new testament

The term Beelzebub was used in the New Testament by the Pharisees and teachers of the Law in slanderous attacks on Jesus. They accused Jesus, saying, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons" (Matthew 12:24). Amazingly, the Pharisees blamed the ability of Jesus to cast out demons on Beelzebub, the one they called the prince of demons. In other words, they attributed the work of Jesus to the work of Satan. Jesus, however, turned the question upon His accusers, asking, "if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Matthew 12:26–28).
Jesus warned His followers to expect similar slander: "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household" (Matthew 10:25). Jesus later expanded on this teaching, saying, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:18–19).

implications for today

The biblical accounts that refer to the false god Beelzebub underscore the importance of seeking and recognizing genuine divine authority and guidance. In 2 Kings 1, King Ahaziah’s choice to consult Baal-zebub, a pagan deity, instead of seeking help from the God of Israel, led to his death. Jesus is the only way, truth, and life (John 14:6). He is the One to be feared above all gods (Psalm 47:2; 95:3; 96:4; 97:9; 135:5). All other gods have no real power as they are made by human hands and gain power through Satan’s deception. Deuteronomy 4:27–31 shows us how we should respond to false gods like Beelzebub: “And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you. And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice. For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.” All who turn to the Lord, even if they previously trusted in something or someone else, will find the way, truth, and abundant life. Referring to Jesus’ work as being done through Beelzebub warns us about the dangers of idolatry and misplaced trust. It emphasizes the necessity of discerning the truth and remaining faithful to the only source of truth and goodness.

understand

Beelzebub was a god worshiped in Ekron, known as "lord of flies."
In Hebrew tradition, Beelzebub is associated with Satan.
The Pharisees accused Jesus of using Beelzebub's power to cast out demons, which He refuted by emphasizing His divinity.

reflect

How do you discern false sources of wisdom in your life? What steps can you take to ensure you are seeking God's wisdom?
Have you ever misinterpreted or attributed someone's work to the wrong source or motive? How can you be slower to judge and more careful to discern someone’s work and intent?
How do you respond to slander or opposition that results from you standing up for your faith? What can you learn from Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ accusations?

engage

The attribution of Jesus' work to Beelzebub was a serious accusation that misunderstood the person and work of the Messiah. Jewish leaders ultimately conspired with others to bring about the death of Jesus, yet His resurrection proved His power as the Messiah and His superiority to Satan.
Both Jesus and those who follow Him will find persecution at the hands of those who oppose His message. The teachers of Jesus' time referred to His work as coming from Beelzebub, essentially claiming His work was demonic. The followers of Jesus were also often persecuted. Church history claims that all but one of the apostles died for their faith, with the one remaining member (the apostle John) sentenced to exile on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9).
What can we learn from King Ahaziah’s decision to seek Baal-zebub about the dangers of idolatry and misplaced trust?